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ferrisscottr's review against another edition
3.0
Average - not something that usually comes to mind with Andrew Clements.
Good enough to spend time reading but not good enough to spend money on (I got this out of the library).
Good enough to spend time reading but not good enough to spend money on (I got this out of the library).
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Another book that misses by trying to do too much. Jordan, Plain and Average, and her journey toward realizing she's perhaps plain but not completely average, would have been enough. The tornado? Too much.
There are so many children in middle school who think they're average (I was one of them): not particularly smart, not particularly talented, not particularly popular. Jordan is a solid B/C student who works hard, she loves to sing and play her violin but isn't great at them; thinking about it, she's only really good at babysitting and gardening, ok at a bunch of things and really bad at others. The problem, of course, is that others see many more things that she's good at - they're just not things that Jordan thinks about or cares about. And then there's the bully, Marlea.
The bully situation is one of the best passages in the book, with Jordan opining that sometimes the anti-bullying program works (when there's physical intimidation) and sometimes doesn't (when it's more verbal in nature). That's a passage that more teachers and administrators need to read! How Jordan actually handles things is interesting, and had the author played that out more, not bringing the tornado into things, this would have been a solid 5-star book.
There are so many children in middle school who think they're average (I was one of them): not particularly smart, not particularly talented, not particularly popular. Jordan is a solid B/C student who works hard, she loves to sing and play her violin but isn't great at them; thinking about it, she's only really good at babysitting and gardening, ok at a bunch of things and really bad at others. The problem, of course, is that others see many more things that she's good at - they're just not things that Jordan thinks about or cares about. And then there's the bully, Marlea.
The bully situation is one of the best passages in the book, with Jordan opining that sometimes the anti-bullying program works (when there's physical intimidation) and sometimes doesn't (when it's more verbal in nature). That's a passage that more teachers and administrators need to read! How Jordan actually handles things is interesting, and had the author played that out more, not bringing the tornado into things, this would have been a solid 5-star book.
msguerrette's review against another edition
3.0
Perfectly cute, but not of the same caliber as his earlier works like, "Frindle," "The Landry News," and "The School Story."
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Andrew Clements does not fail to deliver in this newest school story. Jordan is a kind, hard-working sixth grader who more than anything wants to be good at something. She is okay at many things, but there is no stand out accomplishment that she can point to. Jordan is disappointed to end her elementary school career like this. She had hoped to move on to middle school having found her talent. As we follow her through a very hot day in the last week at school, we learn what she is really good at. And finally, so does she. Highly recommend for grades 3-6.
rpiersonedu's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book with some Scholastic points I had saved. Since I'm new to teaching 6th grade this year, I ordered a bunch of books at that level.
As the dust jacket flap says, Jordan Johnston is average. In fact, the only things she think she's good at are babysitting and gardening. There are clues throughout the book that lead the reader to the climax and (in my opinion) short resolution.
This would be fun for a read-aloud, mostly due to its length.
As the dust jacket flap says, Jordan Johnston is average. In fact, the only things she think she's good at are babysitting and gardening. There are clues throughout the book that lead the reader to the climax and (in my opinion) short resolution.
This would be fun for a read-aloud, mostly due to its length.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
3.0
A short, simple sweet read that could have easily been read in a couple of hours if I had the time to sit down and do it. I honestly wished the book had been fleshed out more and we had gotten to see the long-term resolution of the troubled relationship the title character Jordan has with a bully at her school.
I love that Jordan goes on a journey of self-love and acceptance and also chooses the strategy of “killing them with kindness”. This book was just too short for me!
I love that Jordan goes on a journey of self-love and acceptance and also chooses the strategy of “killing them with kindness”. This book was just too short for me!
distancebetweenhunterandprey's review against another edition
4.0
Was a very inspirational and touching story.
Moral of the story: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Moral of the story: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
noradelaine's review against another edition
5.0
a wonderful book you should read it! Andrew Clements is one of my favorite authors. Read it in one day
calistareads's review against another edition
3.0
Usually, I am very engaged with Andrew's books. I'm captivated. My mind wandered a bit with this one. I did enjoy that Jordan was in the band. She feels very average but she is good in a crisis. The biggest scene in the book felt rushed at the end.
I feel like this could have used more development or something. The book is about average.
I feel like this could have used more development or something. The book is about average.